Re: Question: remote sensing of dinosaur bones

[Ed Traxler <edtrax@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bret Bennington wrote:
> 
> Barbara Munn of Shippensburg State College asks...
> 
> One of my students asked me if they really do explore for dinosaur bones
> using seismic waves like they showed in the beginning of Jurassic Park.
> I thought you might know?
> 
> I don't, but I'm sure somebody does?!  What's the story on remote
> prospecting for dinosaur bones?  I'll forward replies to Barb.
> 
> Many Thanks (yet again)
> 
> J Bret Bennington
> Department of Geology
> 114 Hofstra University
> Hempstead, NY 11550-1090
> 516-463-5568
> FAX: 516-463-6010
> E-mail: GeoJBB@Hofstra.edu

In 1985, David D. Gillette attended a seminar at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.  He asked
if there were any way he could "see" into the ground before excavating a skeleton, something to
give him X-ray vision.  Before long scientists from Sandia National laboratory and Oak Ridge
National Laboratory joined in.

Los Alamos scientist Roland Hagan proposed using a piece of equipment originally designed for
locating 55-gallon drums of possible hazardous waste buried in a landfill.

The device sends impulses into the ground.  The radar reflections can indicate (under the right
conditions) differences between objects and the surrounding rock.

All of the above is taken from the following:

_SESMOSARUS_
THE EARTH SHAKER
David D. Gillette
Columbia University Press

The results looked nothing like that of "Jurassic Park" ... an actual picture on a computer monitor
... an X-ray.  Looked more like something you would have for recording earthquakes or a DNA
analysis. But hey, who knows what's being used now.
-- 
Edward Traxler
EdTrax@dedot.com